Several years ago, two local families donated a large amount of money to The Salvation Army. The organization decided to use the donation to create The Olga Ruth Stratton and Thomas E. Wolf Scholarship, which will benefit a select group of applicants from schools across the county.

The scholarship was created to assist students of low- to moderate-income households to receive a higher education, whether through earning a college degree or earning a trade. In order to be eligible to receive the scholarship, students must be Lancaster County residents, demonstrate a need for financial assistance, have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher and be graduating seniors, among other requirements. Each student must submit a high school transcript, an academic recommendation letter, a community service-related recommendation letter and a one-page essay describing his or her career goals. For more information, visit http://www.salvationarmylancaster.org or contact 717-397-7565. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, March 20.

Once students submit their applications and the necessary documents, The Salvation Army will review them and schedule an interview with the students who qualify at its location at 131 S. Queen St., Lancaster. During the interview, each student will describe his or her vision and career plan and detail what school and major he or she has in mind. The Salvation Army will provide assistance beyond the scholarship itself by helping the students to locate additional resources that will help with secondary education.

"We believe in education and the next generation," said Shady Boules, operations and development manager at The Salvation Army. "Going to college isn't an easy decision to make and it's not cheap. We believe that once students finish school and begin working, they will be in a position to give back to their communities."

In previous years, The Salvation Army offered small scholarships to local students. The organization recently welcomed aboard many new officers who have decided to make a more concerted effort to support students in the county. The Salvation Army's goal is to continue to award the scholarship to 15 students in Lancaster County each year.

The Salvation Army offers various other programs to Lancaster County residents throughout the year. On Fridays, the organization distributes food to over 100 local families, providing them with a box of essentials such as bread, soup, sandwiches, rice and breakfast items. The Salvation Army also provides financial assistance to families that need help paying for rent and utilities. Through the nonprofit's Pathway of Hope program, families can receive financial and life coaching resources through lessons that cover topics such as budgeting, applying to jobs and creating resumes.

"We hope that one day, the people who we help will give back to the community when they can by assisting those in need," Boules said.